“Work.”
“Chicken-tester?”
She smiles again. “Yes. I worked for a luxury cruise line in the Med making sure all of their chicken was properly edible. Five stars on this one, by the way. Hints of rosemary and thyme on the nose, a bold, full-bodied poultry grease mouthfeel, and a delightfulI’m going to have indigestionfinish.”
I was out with my teammates right after the season ended for us one match short of the championship last month, and I watched one of the younger guys fall hard for a woman at the bar who kept smearing ketchup on her mouth every time she had a fry.
I didn’t get it.
Now, I think I do.
And because I haven’t been out in the hooking-up or flirting or dating game since my first attempt after Caden died ended like shit, I don’t actually know what to say back.
Or if I want to.
Don’t need another stalker leaving cheese in my mailbox with sticky notes attached insulting my character.
Not that she’ll have access to my mailbox.
I’ll be in Spain. Long way to get to my mailbox.
I grunt and push the trunk open, then grab a case of wine.
Ziggy steps beside me and reaches for another case but gets shooed by Brydie, who whispers something about hercondition.
Condition?
Like a blood sugar condition? Does she have scoliosis? Is there some underlying condition that the average human wouldn’t recognize that she’s dealing?—
Nope.
Stop it, Webster.
Got enough on my plate being captain of the team and keeping all of the young guys—and often the not-as-young guys—out of trouble.
My job of playing full-on caretaker ended when Caden died.
I don’t have to care about strangers and their situations.
Even when they’re pretty and funny and intriguing.
And even when I’m lying, and I still watch over my teammates like I’m their big brother. My neighbors like I’m their nephew. My coworkers like?—
You get the idea.
Leaving the country will be good for me in every way that counts.
“Go on, go in and get changed,” Brydie repeats to her.
Ziggy rubs her eye as she nods. “Okay. Thank you. I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”
She switches course and grabs a suit bag out of the back seat, but when she bends to retrieve her chicken, a large black bird swoops in and buzzes her.
She shrieks.
I drop the wine and lunge for her, steadying her before she topples over.
Honey.
